Tires | Schedule 1 Inspection (Ontario Road Test), by Canada Trust Driving School on YouTube. 18 min.
- Video length
- 18 min
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground, set the parking brake and chock the wheels before you walk around the truck. Put on gloves so you can run your hands over the rubber safely.
Start at the front left tire and work around the truck in the same order every time. Say each check out loud the way you will on the road test.
Check tread depth with a gauge in at least three spots across the tread. Note the reading and compare it with the minimum your province requires.
Look for uneven wear, cupping, flat spots and exposed cords or fabric. Point out any defect and explain why it would fail the inspection.
Inspect the sidewall for cuts, bulges, cracks and missing chunks of rubber. Run your gloved hand around the whole sidewall to feel for damage.
Check that valve caps are fitted and the valve stem is not cracked or bent. Confirm the tire pressure matches the placard or your company spec.
Look for leaks, oil or water trails and foreign objects like nails or screws stuck in the tread. Mark anything you find and report it.
Check that wheel nuts are present, tight and show no rust streaks or shiny threads. Confirm the rim has no cracks or bends.
Repeat the same checks on every tire, including the inner duals and trailer tires. Finish by stating your overall result to the examiner.
Tips and common mistakes
Use the same walk-around order every time so you never skip a tire under test pressure.
A bulge or cut sidewall means the tire is out of service, so say so clearly instead of just noting it.
Say the actual tread reading out loud rather than just saying the tread looks fine.
Check inner dual tires by hand and flashlight since damage there is easy to miss.
Questions
What tread depth do I need to pass?
Commercial tire minimums vary by province and tire position, so learn the exact number your jurisdiction sets and quote it during the inspection. Measure with a gauge rather than judging by eye.
Do I have to explain every step out loud?
Yes. The examiner scores what you say and do, so name each part you check and state what you find. Silent checks can cost you points.
What counts as a damaged sidewall?
Cuts, bulges, cracks and missing rubber are all defects. Any of these means the tire should be taken out of service and reported.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
